Safety-stirrup.



W. L. WARD. I SAFETY STIRRUP. APPLIOATION IILED JUNE 15, 1912.

- Patented Sept. 30,1913.

Zlwwwtwa W11. Ward COLUMBIA PLANOGRAI'H CO..WASHINGTOH. D. C

' UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

i WILLIAM L. WARD, F WATAUGA FALLS, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTI-I TO B. H. HABMAN, O13 WATAUGA FALLS, NORTH CAROLINA;

SAFETY-STIRRUP,

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. WARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Watauga Falls, in the county of lVatauga and State of NorthCarolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in Safety- Stirrups,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to safety stirrups, the object in view being toprovide a stirrup of the class described which is of exceedingly simple,and yet strong and reliable construction, and which will reliablyrelease the foot of the horseman, in case of accident. 7

A further object of the invention is to make an all-metal stirrup, whichwill last indefinitely, and in which the parts controlling the movableportion of the stirrup are so constructed and arranged as to insure longlife and durability, and avoid any possibility of the working partsgetting out of order.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in.the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will behereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a safety stirrupembodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is avertical central sectionthrough the same. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the foldingarm. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the bracket to which thefolding arm is pivotally connected.

The tread 1 and the innerrigid arm 2 of the stirrup of this inventionare formed in one piece of sheet metal, bent into channel form, asclearly illustrated in the drawings.

Between the outwardly extending flanges 3 of the rigid side arm 2, thesuspending eye 4 of the stirrup is secured. While the eye 4: is shown assubstantially triangular in shape, it will be understood that anydesired shape may be imparted to said eye, the latter. being providedwith a shank 5 which extends downward and between the flanges 3, and isriveted or otherwise secured in place between the same.

At its outer end, the tread is provided with an upturned toe portion orguard 6, and to the outer face of said guard is se- Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed June 15, 1912. Serial No. 703,847.

Patented Sept. so, 1913.

cured a bracket, embodying a base 7, and outwardly extending parallellugs 8 which receive a pivot bolt 9, on which the movable and foldingouter side arm 10 of the stirrup is pivotally mounted. This outer armcurves upwardly and inwardly toward the rigid arm, as shown, and at itslower end is provided with the outwardly projecting foot 11 which bearsagainst a flat spring 19. extending inwardly between the clownwardlyprojecting flanges of the tread, where it is secured to the body of thetread by means of a bolt 13 or its equivalent.

In order to strengthen the movable arm of the stirrup, the latter isprovided with the outwardly projecting reinforcing webs or flanges 14 atopposite sides thereof, said flanges or webs extending downwardly to theoutwardly projecting foot, and thereby imparting a wedge shape to thelower end of the arm and serving to brace said foot against the upwardabove referred to.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that when the foot ofthe rider bears against the movable arm of the stirrup, said arm swingsoutwardly and downwardly, the foot of said arm bearing against thespring and pressing the latter downward until the movable arm has beenswung outward to its full extent, whereupon it will lock against thespring and remain in its fully open position, as shown by dotted linesin the drawings. 7 This entirely releases the foot of the rider andavoids any possibility of his being dragged by the animal.

What is claimed is:

A safety stirrup comprising a channeled tread, the flanges of whichextend clownwardly, and having its outer end swaged upwardly to form astop shoulder, a side arm integral with and extending upwardly from thechanneled tread and formed with upwardly converging flanges, said treadand arm being formed of pressed sheet metal, a suspending eye fastenedbetween the flanges of said arm in fixed relation to the upper endthereof, a folding arm pivotally connected with the, channeled tread andcurving upwardly and inwardly toward the rigid arm and also providedwit-h an outwardly projecting L-shaped lower heel portion having a flatbottom face which projects beyond the extremity of the tread, saidfolding arm and its heel portion being also pressure of the springformed of pressed sheet metal, and a fiat In testimony whereof I afiixmy signaspring housed Within the channel of the ture in presenceof-two'witnesses.

tread and fastened to said tread, said spring WILLIAM L NARD bearingagainst the outwardly projecting 7' V 5 heel portion of the folding armand serving WVitnesses:

to hold the folding arm against said stop 7 JOHN VVAno,

shoulder. JOHN WV. WVARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

